| This trial is a Big Deal, I think. This guy is bad news. |
A man who trained extremists at a Pakistani militant camp plotted a major bomb attack on Sydney, a court has heard. The allegations against Faheem Lodhi, 34, were made yesterday at a Central Local Court committal trial. Lodhi, a Punchbowl architect, is accused of colluding with French terror suspect Willie Brigitte to bomb the city's electricity network and military bases. He faces a maximum life sentence if convicted of 10 charges under Commonwealth law. The six-day trial before Magistrate Michael Price will hear evidence via satellite from terrorists serving jail sentences in America and Singapore. Commonwealth prosecutor Richard Maidment, SC, told the court Lodhi worked in a "professional capacity" as a paramilitary at the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist group camp in Lahore in October, 2001. Lodhi allegedly worked as a clerk, training groups and individuals who were expected to apply techniques such as "surveillance, invisible ink, dead letter drops and self-defence". | Well sure, you always hire a Pakistani for this. They're the best. |
Lodhi is accused of implementing plans to shelter Brigitte in preparation for a terror assault on Sydney's electricity grid or military bases in May 2003. It was claimed Australian Federal Police agents found photographs of these targets dumped in a bin by Lodhi at Lake Gillawarna Reserve on October 25, 2003. Lodhi allegedly met Brigitte at the airport then found him a flat in Wiley Park, later assisting with the Frenchman's plans to marry Australian woman Melanie Brown. In October, Lodhi allegedly used the name M Rasul of Rasul Electrical to purchase maps of the electricity grid in preparation for, "bombing the system". The court heard Lodhi asked an architect colleague where to buy chemicals, explaining he wished to "manufacture jewellery". | "Lissen, Mahmoud, I'm thinkin' about making jewellery. Any idea where I can get some cyanide?" |
Just days later, he is accused of duping an employee of Deltrex Chemicals, stating he was starting a detergent business. | "Yeah, I need lots of, um ... cyanide, yeah, that's it, I'm making soap." |
Lodhi ordered dangerous chemicals used to produce explosives, the court heard. Mr Maidment said the chemicals matched notes written by Lodhi which revealed instructions for bombs and grenades made of urea nitrate, potassium chlorade and cyanide gas. After Lodhi's arrest in April, Federal agents searched his home and seized four US military images, and 600 files relating to extremist operations. |